Mrs. Catherine Kesler
Mrs. Catherine Kesler, one of the well-known and highly respected residents of German township, resides on her highly improved farm of 210 acres, which is situated in section 17, one mile south of Elida, on the Elida and Allentown turnpike road. Mrs. Kesler was born March 6, 1839, in German township and is a daughter of Philip and Margaret (Meyers) Herring, who were early pioneers of Allen County.
Catherine Herring was reared and educated in German township. On March 4, 1860, she was married to George Kesler, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 22, 1838, and was a son of Abraham Kesler. He was two years old when his parents came to Allen County and settled on the farm in German township, now owned by Samuel East. He was reared and educated in German township.
Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kesler moved up on the farm then owned by Philip Herring, father of Mrs. Kesler, which was situated directy south of the present home of Mrs. Kesler, on the other side of the road. After living here some years the family moved to the present farm in section 17, and here Mr. Kesler built the large brick residence now occupied by Mrs. Kesler, which is one of the most imposing homes in Allen County. Mr. Kesler always took a great deal of honest pride in this beautiful home, but he was not permitted to enjoy its comforts into extreme old age, his death occurring on May 14, 1901, when but 63 years old. He was laid to rest in Greenlawn Cemetery.
When the Civil War broke out Mr. Kesler felt that it was almost his bounden duty to fight for his country. Only the fact that he was but lately wedded and had taken heavy responsibilities upon himself, prevented at that time but on September 23, 1864, he became a private in Company C. 179th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served until his honorable discharge on June 17, 1865.
Mrs. Kesler has never had any children, but she has two sisters and one brother, these being: Eliza, who married Robert Patton, of Sidney, Ohio, and now resides at Indianapolis, Indiana; Anna M., who married John Rundio, of Allen County, Ohio, now of Putnam County; and W. M., pastor of the Lutheran Church of Canton, Ohio. Mrs. Kesler is a member of the Lutheran Church at Elida and one of its liberal supporters.